According to a report in Spanish media outlet Marca, West Ham are planning to offer a bid of around £20 million to sign striker Antonio Sanabria from La Liga outfit Real Betis.
The 22-year-old is a full Paraguay international, having made nine appearances for his country since making his debut in 2013. He scored eight times in eight starts for Betis in 2017/18 and became the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick for Sporting Gijon during his loan spell at the club from Italian giants Roma in 2014/15.
Marca says that Betis had hoped to keep Sanabria for the 2018/19 season after qualifying for the Europa League.
Real Betis share 50 per cent of the youngster’s rights with Roma, meaning they would only receive half the transfer fee should West Ham sign him.
West Ham pocketed up to £11m from the sale of Cheik Kouyate but would probably need to sell another player to balance the budget for Sanabria. The Hammers previously said they were looking for a backup striker to replace Jordon Hugill so if true this would be a step up of the calibre that was originally envisioned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgefOQ_ZQeE
My personal view is the CDM is the most vital addition we need to make. Wilshire may not play a full compliment of games. In any case CDM is not his role. We do not really have a candidate apart from Obiang for whom the jury is out.
Although seven have come in we were thread bare last season at times. There have actually been significant squad reductions whilst the additions have got all of the news. Currently we have three long term injuries – Reid, Carroll and Lanzini, Gone now are Kouyate, Burke, Evra, Hart, Mario, and Collins. A couple other others have been deemed not ready and left on loan (Samuelson and Browne). It seems Byram, Oxford and Hugill will follow. Absolutely vital that no-one else goes without a better replacement.
Eight days to go before the window shuts and I think there’s still plenty that will happen both coming and going.
I can’t say I’ve heard of most if any of the players we’ve been linked with but with MP at the helm I’m trusting him and his team’s judgement. The same goes for anyone who departs.
Very exciting times indeed.
COYI!
If he’s worth 20 mill and got a great scoring record, how come he hardly plays for club or country?
Curious but agree unless its his attitude, age or some other reason, from the clips on that video, he has excellent movement, can score goals by hitting them early or late, has pace and is excellent in the air at getting in front of or dropping off his markers. Certainly if he could reproduce that form week in week out he would be worth a lot more than £20m.
Agree with Jonny and think they have identified this chap from Lille for the CDM position. I don’t think they are looking for back ups at all but to generate healthy competition in all positions and he who performs will play.